Brian Pate > Recent Status Updates

What is the essence of real Christianity? John Owen: "It is to have our minds really exercised with delight about heavenly things, the things that are above, especially Christ himself as at the right hand of God" (qtd. in p. 179).

"Part of the mission fo the Spirit is to tell you about God's love for you, his delight in you, and the fact that you are his child" (p. 172).

The first 2 chapters are a very helpful summary of different schools of thought: liberal (modernized), Schweitzer (consistent), Dodd (realized), Bultmann (existential), and Moltmann (theology of hope). Very interesting.

"When we are so satisfied in Christ that we are enabled to willingly die for him, we are freed to love the lost as never before, and Christ is shown to be a great Treasure" (Piper, p. 45).

Ch. 10 is the best thing I've read on meditation.

This book is the published version of the 2007 Desiring God conference. You can listen to all of the talks and interviews here: https://www.desiringgod.org/series/20...

"We must combine tenacious importunity, a 'striving with God,' with a deep acceptance of God's wise will, whatever it is" (p. 137).

"Prayer is the way that all the things we believe in and that Christ has won for us actually becomes our strength. Prayer is the way that truth is worked into your heart" (p. 132).

"God often waits to give a blessing until you have prayed for it. Why? Good things that we do not ask for will usually be interpreted by our hearts as the fruit of our own wisdom and diligence" (p. 102).

"Our weaknesses are a workroom for his grace.

Our limits and weaknesses are not in the way of what God can do through us, but our denial of limits and our delusions of independent strength are" (p. 73).

"Amid our hectic lives, amid all our challenges and trials, it is the fresh contemplation of the glory of God that will bring the right, bigger, healthier, happier perspective to all we are going through" (p. 80).

"The fear which pleases him is not a groveling, shrinking fear. He is no tyrant. It is an ecstasy of love and joy that senses how overwhelmingly kind and magnificent, good and true God is, and that therefore leans on him in staggered praise and faith” (p. 67).

The threat of "functional gospel amnesia" (58)

"The pastor doesn't see growth -- not real growth -- without years on his knees" (73-74).